A GOVERNMENT inspector will decide whether a lodge park in South Cumbria can expand after an appeal was launched.

Andrew Cotter has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate after Westmorland and Furness Council turned down plans for additional cabins on Pastures Lodge Park off Templands Lane in Allithwaite.

The council turned down plans for four additional lodges on the site in April after ruling it would result in ‘encroachment’ into the open countryside.

A decision notice issued by the council said: “By virtue of this increase in scale, this would result in a detrimental visual impact on the character of the area and wider landscape.”

According to planning documents the applicant wants to expand the site to meet demand after a ‘surge in demand for staycations’ across the UK.

Plans were initially in place for seven additional lodges however this was reduced to four following talks with planning officers.

The planning statement says: “The reduced, now small-scale extension would still further enhance the tourist accommodation offer in the Cartmel peninsula to help sustain the local economy including the service jobs generated by the visitor spending.”

This appeal is currently under consideration by the Planning Inspectorate.